FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ronda Wiggers, State Director, rondakwiggers@gmail.com
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

HELENA, Mont., Feb. 18, 2026—The nation’s largest and leading small business association today released its first energy survey of its membership, showing how energy costs impact their business operations.

“I think this new survey will provide Montana policymakers a nice aerial view of small businesses’ use of energy and how increasing costs affect them,” said Ronda Wiggers, state director for NFIB in Montana. “It’s a national look not broken down by state, so the numbers might slightly vary in Montana, such as the cost of operating vehicles, which might be a little higher here, given our state’s vastness and rural nature.”

Energy costs play a critical and growing role in the operation of small businesses. They are often one of the largest costs for owners in operating their business. Energy prices also tend to be more volatile, making it difficult for small business owners to estimate future costs. The NFIB survey collected responses from 775 small business owners across a wide range of industries and across the country.

From Holly Wade, executive director of NFIB’s Research Center

“Small businesses are highly exposed to energy cost increases, have limited flexibility to reduce costs, and experience direct operational and financial impacts as a result. As owners work to absorb the impact of energy costs into their business, it can often limit their ability to hire, retain talent, and grow.”

Highlights from Key Findings

• Across all major energy sources, about 80% of small business owners reported that energy costs significantly (very or moderately) impact the business.
• Energy costs related to heating and cooling are the most common primary energy cost, followed by operating equipment and/or processes, and in third place, vehicles.
• Two-thirds of small business owners report that energy efficiency is at least somewhat important when replacing vehicles. However, adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles remains very limited.
• Two-thirds of businesses experienced a power outage in the last year, most often due to equipment failure rather than weather events (55% vs. 15%; 28% were unsure of the cause).

Keep up with the latest Montana small business news at www.nfib.com or by following us on X at @NFIB_MT.

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For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.

NFIB Montana
406-899-9659
rondakwiggers@gmail.com
NFIB.com
X: @NFIB_MT